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VERTECS
VERTECS is a JAXA-SMASH astronomy CubeSat measuring the visible extragalactic background light from sun-synchronous orbit.
Active. JAXA reported on 4 September 2026 that VERTECS completed commissioning and began routine astronomical observations.
View in 3D map ↗Official mission site ↗The mission
Visible Extragalactic background RadiaTion Exploration by CubeSat (VERTECS) is a 6U astronomy CubeSat led by Kyushu Institute of Technology with JAXA and university partners. Its telescope measures the visible extragalactic background light to investigate the history of star formation. JAXA reported that the spacecraft entered routine observation operations after launch and on-orbit commissioning.
The launch
- Launch
- 12 June 2026
- Launch location
- Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
- Launch vehicle
- H3 Launch Vehicle No. 6 (Type 30 Test Vehicle)
- Orbit
- Sun-synchronous Earth orbit
Mission timeline
Follow the mission through its available trajectory data in the full 3D solar-system map.
- Now
Current mission status
Now
Active. JAXA reported on 4 September 2026 that VERTECS completed commissioning and began routine astronomical observations.
Objectives
- 01
Measure visible extragalactic background light with a compact space telescope.
- 02
Constrain the history of star formation from the observed background radiation.
- 03
Demonstrate a JAXA-SMASH astronomy CubeSat mission in orbit.
Spacecraft
VERTECS
A small satellite observatory for visible extragalactic background-radiation measurements.
- Manufacturer
- Kyushu Institute of Technology and mission partners
- Dimensions
- 6U CubeSat
- Visible-light telescope
Gallery
2 images from VERTECS.
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